Updated 9:34 pm, Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Police say they have three compelling arguments as to why Sarah Espinosa should not have been driving her Toyota Prius on Monday night: she was drunk; she had marijuana; and a python was coiled around her neck.

Authorities said Espinosa was inebriated and had a snake stolen from a Petco pet and pet supply store wrapped around her throat when she crashed her car into a fire station in New Hyde Park, a village in Nassau County.

Espinosa, 22, lives on South Main Avenue in Albany. Police could not say why she was on Long Island.

Nassau County police, in a news release, said that on Monday evening, Espinosa allegedly stole a small ball python from a Petco store on Jericho Turnpike, part of State Route 25, which runs the length of Long Island.

At around 7 p.m., on the turnpike about 25 miles east of where she allegedly stole the snake, Espinosa lost control of her car, police said.

Her car crossed over a median, struck a Nissan Maxima and barreled into the New Hyde Park fire station, where it crashed into two fire trucks.

A photo published by Newsday shows Espinosa's car after it smashed through one of the firehouse's garage doors.

When firefighters went to Espinosa's aid, "They removed the snake from the defendant's neck and secured it at the scene," police said.

Espinosa was treated and released from a local hospital.

"The snake was returned to the store," police said.

Petco's website advertises its ball pythons as "a great choice for someone looking for a snake because they stay much smaller than other pythons. They are also the most docile."